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Live animals Wednesday at Franklin Public Library

admin — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:44:21 +0000

Looking for something fun to do with the kids? There are two live animal exhibitions for children coming up this Wednesday afternoon 1PM and 2 PM at the Franklin Public Library in Franklin, MA!

Drumlin Farms Animals

Designed for children aged 5 +, the shows will be conducted by staff from the Drumlin Farms Wildlife Sanctuary.

So the kids’ time with the animals will be both fun and educational.

Register to attend

You need to register to attend either show set for Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 1 PM and again at 2 PM.

Call the Franklin Public Library at 508-520-4940 x1.

Audubon Ark Outreach

Wednesday’s exhibitions are part of the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Ark Outreach Program.

The Ark Outreach program brings natural history and science lessons to children and creates connections between kids and their local environment.

Just another benefit of living in Massachusetts!

Please click the hotlink to learn more about the Franklin Public Library.

Save money by downloading free eBooks from your MA public library

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:03:53 +0000

If your local public library is part of the Minuteman Network in Massachusetts, you can now borrow books digitally. So long as you have a library card and a computer or mobile device with Internet access, you just need to install an app, access the Minuteman eBook website and download eBooks . . . for free!

What MA libraries belong to the Minuteman Network?

Over 40 public and academic libraries in Massachusetts participate in the Minuteman Network.

Click the image above or the hotlink to see if your local library belongs to the Network.

Franklin, MA Public Library offers eBooks

The Franklin, Massachusetts Public Library belongs to the Minuteman Network and is now offering e-Books via the system.

This new service should not be confused with the previously-existing audio book download service for the sight-impaired. The Franklin, MA Public Library continues to offer these audio book downloads in addition to the new eBook service.

How to download eBooks from a public library

CNET.com has posted a good video that will show you how to use the public library eBook system (powered by a service called Overdrive).

Click on the image above or click the hotlink to go to the CNET site to view the video.

Lots of mobile devices and readers are supported by the Overdrive platform

You can also get help from the robust support section hosted on the Minuteman eBook access portal:

Click the image above or the hotlink to view the help guide.

Many titles from which to choose

The Minuteman’s eBook collection includes many titles of fiction and nonfiction, including bestsellers and recently released works. There are no late fees – when your lending period expires, the title expires automatically.

So instead of buying e-Books from a retailer like Amazon, check out your public library. Your library card and internet-enabled device may open a world of free eBooks for you!

Book sale to benefit Franklin MA Public Library is Saturday October 16

Warren Reynolds — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 13:54:19 +0000

The Friends of the Franklin Library will hold its semi-annual book sale Saturday, October 16 from 9:00 AM to 4:00pm. The sale takes place at the Franklin Department of Public Works (DPW) Garage on Public Works Way off Hayward St. in Franklin, MA. This is an event not to be missed!

Fun way to save money and help Franklin MA Library

You’ll be able to browse literally thousands of hard and soft cover books in a broad range of topics. With really low prices and a great selection, there’s sure to be a book (or many more) for just about everyone!

Good books and videos – cheap!

At previous book sales, the majority of hard cover books were just one dollar. Adult paperbacks have sold for 50 cents.

Most children’s and young adult books were 50 cents. (You can save a lot of money buying a load of children’s books here!)

There are often lots of videotapes, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, audio books and games for sale as well. At a recent book sale, I got a complete 8 video set of the PBS classic “I, Claudius” for $8!

Sunday Oct 17 – $5 for a bag of books

The deals get even better Sunday, October 17! You’ll be able to buy a bag of books for just $5.

The Friends of the Franklin Library book sales are great fun and money saving – and you are helping support the Franklin Public Library in Franklin, Massachusetts!

Donate your unwanted books

If you have used books, DVDs, etc. that you don’t know what to do with, please consider donating them to the Friends of the Franklin Public Library.

You can bring them to the easy, convenient donation drop-off area on the first floor of the Franklin Public Library.

If you live in Franklin and have a load of books and videos you’d like to donate but can’t handle it yourself, please contact Warren Reynolds – he’ll help you get your items to the Friends.

Striking new reading room at Franklin, MA Public Library

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 09 May 2010 13:49:57 +0000

If you haven’t visited Franklin’s Public Library recently, you’re in for an eye opening experience: there’s a simply beautiful new reading room on the library’s lower level!

What was a mostly unused, locked afterthought has now become a striking enhancement to one of the most impressive municipal properties owned by the Town of Franklin, Massachusetts.

On of the jewels of Franklin, MA

The historic Public Library in the Town of Franklin, MA can rightly be called one of the “Jewels of Franklin.” The exterior is styled after a classic Greek temple. The interior is lavishly decorated with mahogany, marble, and bronze and features amazing murals and landscapes by internationally known artists.

The Franklin, MA Public Library holds an important place in the intellectual history of America: it is recognised as the first public library in the entire United States!

Striking renovation

Here’s a YouTube video of the new reading room:

The new reading room is very much in keeping with the high quality of the main rooms on the second floor.

I was simply stunned by the beautiful coffered ceiling.

The room used to be the children’s room. It seems to have mostly been closed to the public and only infrequently used over the last ten years or so.

The beautiful restoration of this room will hopefully spur further improvements to the lower level.

All the residents of Franklin are very lucky to have such a beautiful library building; please help the Friends of the Franklin Library support this important asset to the Franklin, MA community.

Franklin, MA Library offers lots of fun for young children

Warren Reynolds — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:59:59 +0000

Young children will enjoy visiting the Public Library in Franklin, Massachusetts. In addition to an attractive and well-stocked children’s room, the Library offers plenty of activities for the little ones.

Click on the image above or the hotlink to download the spring 2010 program guide for the Franklin, MA Public Library.

Story-telling and fun activities

In addition to its regular roster of children’s story-times and activities, there are special events for the young set planned at the Franklin Public Library throughout the spring 2010 season.

A highlight looks to be the pony rides set for April 21, 2010!

Photos and history of the beautiful Franklin library

If you haven’t visited the Franklin, Massachusetts Public Library yet, you’re in for a treat!

The interior is gorgeous!

Click here to see more images of the beautiful interior of the Franklin MA Public Library.

And the exterior is stately and impressive.

Click here to see more photos of the exterior of the Franklin Public Library.

The charming history of the Franklin Massachusetts Public Library is very interesting. It’s the first public library in America!

How Museum Pass Programs Can Help You

Warren Reynolds — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:45:05 +0000

Many public libraries in Massachusetts sponsor museum pass programs. These pass programs are a very valuable public benefit you should know about. They allow users to inexpensively attend cultural and civic events that perhaps they would not have been able to experience otherwise.

The excellent museum program at the Franklin, MA Public Library gives you discounted admission to many museums and tourist destinations throughout eastern Massachusetts. Click here to read a detailed explanation of the museum pass program at the Franklin Public Library.

Franklin’s museum pass program recently enabled me to give my two young sons a very enjoyable and educational Saturday at the Museum of Science in Boston.

With the museum pass, my wife, 2 sons and I paid a total of $20 ($5 per person) for admission into the exhibition halls. At $19 each for 2 adults and $16 each for 2 children, normal full price admission would have been $70.00.

Through Franklin’s museum pass program we saved $50!

There was so much to see and explore at the Museum of Science, it was impossible to take in even a fraction of all the exhibits in one day. And that excludes the special shows at the Mugar Omni Theater and the Hayden Planetarium.

I was impressed with the visitors in attendance that day: there were lots of parents and children who seemed sincerely engaged in the intellectual and physical experiences provided by the museum.

Here’s just some of what we especially enjoyed:

Colossal Fossil: Triceratops Cliff

One of only four mostly complete Triceratops fossils in the world, this specimen is 23 feet long. You get up close access and get to compare the real thing to a plastic cast life-size model such as are typically on display at other dinosaur museums. Quite a difference in detail!

Frogs: A Chorus of Colors

The frog exhibit is housed in a very spacious hall and has many displays of living exotic frogs. The poisonous frogs with their vibrant colors were a big hit with us!

Van de Graaff Generator

Dr. Robert J. Van de Graaff was a professor at MIT and built this colossal device for X ray and atomic particle research. I had a small hand-operated Van de Graff generator when I was 12 years old, so this huge one towering over our heads was special for me.

Check out the rest of the photos from my visit to the Museum of Science in the gallery below.

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Children’s Room Franklin Public Library

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:53:44 +0000

The Library has a first-class Children’s Room featuring a comprehensive collection of books, magazines, video games, and DVD movies.

There are always charming decorations throughout the Children’s Department and plenty of toys, games and puppets that children can play with.

The Library sponsors frequent preschool story times and family entertainments thought the year.

With program titles including “Mother Goose On The Loose” and “Terrific Twos,” these reading sessions are presented by library staff and are designed to provide valuable learning experiences for young children; sessions are designed for various age groups ranging for 2 to 5. Other young children’s programs include drop-in craft days, story and craft events. Registration is required for certain events.

Click here to learn about some of the Franklin Public Library’s history.

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1st Public Library in America

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:39:39 +0000

The Franklin Public Library in Franklin, MA is generally recognized as the first public library in the United States.

The Franklin Collection of books formed the original nucleus of the Franklin Library. Books were exceedingly rare and costly in the Americas, even at the end of the 18th Century.

On November 20th, 1790, a Franklin town meeting voted to lend the books to all Franklin inhabitants free of charge. Thus the first public library in the United States was established.

It is pretty amazing to consider that Franklin, MA established a public library before major population centers such as New York, Philadelphia and Boston!

The Franklin Collection of Books

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:58:33 +0000

The original collection of books for the Franklin Public Library in Franklin, MA came as a gift from the famous US statesman, scientist and patriot Benjamin Franklin in 1778.

The original Franklin Collection still exists and is prominently in an antique wooden book case in the Library.

Franklin made the gift to the town in appreciation of the town naming itself after him. Asserting that “sense” was preferable to “sound”, Franklin gave books instead of money for a church bell the town fathers were seeking.

Just think of the enduring benefits that Ben Franklin’s far-seeing donation of books (in lieu of money for that church bell) gave to generations of town residents. I have read that Horace Mann, famous educator who was born in Franklin, MA in 1796, furthered his own education as a boy with the Franklin Collection of books. Sense certainly can be better than sound!

Click here to learn more about the Franklin Public Library in Franklin, Mass.

Exterior of the Franklin Public Library

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:27:05 +0000

The building that houses the Franklin Public Library in Franklin, MA was built in 1904. The impressive structure was constructed and decorated in the style of a classical Greek temple with pink granite and Ionic and Doric columns.

A local wealthy family gave the funds to construct the Library building. The formal name of the library is the Ray Memorial Library.

A major renovation and expansion were completed in the 1980s.

Exterior repairs were undertaken in 2008 to prevent rainwater penetration into affected areas of the building. Improvements to landscaping and paving were also performed.

Click here to learn about the stunning interior decor of the Franklin, MA Public Library!

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